Fort Worth Zoo

Another day of great weather and since once Nick gets out of school the weather will be HOT we decided to try out the Fort Worth Zoo that everyone has been talking about. Yes, I know he threw a tantrum last night...but he's a baby and today is a new day.

Jack was so patient while Dad stood in line to buy our tickets.
The flamingos were our first stop and I instantly saw why the Fort Worth Zoo is better than the Dallas Zoo...you get right up close to the animals. Jack loved fluting with the flamingos like in his Polar Bear, Polar Bear book.
You knew our little man would love the aquariums of fish.
We went through the petting zoo but didn't touch them this time around...especially not the goat...check out the sign...SCARY -BITING GOATS!!
Pretty sure the Baton Rouge Zoo doesn't look anything like this...we're high class here in Texas.
Jack was totally unfazed by the giant teeth of the alligator that was staring at him through the glass. Meanwhile Nick was chanting in his ear, "Tiger Bait, Tiger Bait, Tiger Bait!"
We were starved after walking so much and stopped in at Texas Town for some lunch....It was hard to resist the great smelling junk food...but we had packed a healthy and affordable picnic lunch. Every time I put my head down to read the map Jack would lay his head down on the table to see what I was doing....so cute!!
Since we had showed such great restraint during lunch we treated ourselves to dessert from the Ice Cream Parlour. Jack, Nick, and I loved sharing our cone of Cookies and Cream Ice Cream.
To conserve our energy we rode the train back to the entrance so we could head down the other path to see the traditional zoo animals...zebras, elephants, and lions.
When the train took off Jack had fun waving good-bye to the bulls and all the people waiting in line at the Depot.
The closest to a family picture that we got get...wish we had a photographer that could follow us around and take pictures of the three of us together because most of the time I'm the one that is left out of the pictures...although most of the time I see myself in them and would like to photoshop me out. :)
Really Dad do you think you are going to get his attention when we are flying through the wilderness on a train?!?
Alright...I know...Nick just tried to get one of Jack and I but I thought I was talented enough to get them together...nope...the trees are too interesting.
Towards the end of the day the sun was out in full force and I was worried about Jack getting sunburn. We packed his swim hat, which he won't wear, but I tried this one on his at the little shop and he left it on...until we got outside. He hated it!



It was a great day. Jack passed out in the car before we hit the interstate to drive back to Dallas ( I snoozed a little too but kept my head up so Nick didn't get jealous). Can't wait til our next family field trip...I'm thinking since we have the whole Summer to spend as a family that we'll be out and about often so we don't kill each other.

Mediterranean MADness

The weather was perfect today and in celebration of our first weekend together as a family without Nick teaching Saturday School we decided to have a nice dinner out on the patio. To take Nick and I back to our travels abroad in Greece we had some pita, tazziki, hummos, and a chicken fattoush salad with feta. Only difference was, well...we are in Allen, there is no glittering water with pebble beaches, and we have that little one that requires so much attention. Here are Jack and Nick waiting for the final dishes to be brought outside before they can dig in.
Doesn't it all look great? I dare to say that their hummos is slightly better than Serops...but no worries...the chicken doesn't come close.
Jack had some veggie patty with tomato basil and parmesan, lima beans, pita, and kiwi.
Please remember this face during and after you watch the following video.

Jack loves being outside so much that when you bring him inside or open the door and don't follow through with some playtime...well, he isn't happy. On the way home from picking up dinner Nick and I were talking about how lucky we are that Jack is so perfect-goes to bed easy, follows directions, is cute, and rarely ever throws fits....well, he blew that one out the Aegean Sea tonight. Dinner went from a Mediterranean Feast to Mediterranan MADness. I like to think it was a tummy ache from the spices in the food he tasted...but we all know the truth.

Team Blue!

In the past two weeks Team Blue has added four new players.

Palmer Jaxon Riley

son to Kelly Riley a friend from LSU

04-23-08

10:04 am

7 lbs. 4 oz.

21 in.

John Patrick Hall

son to Jenny and Patrick Hall both friends from U-High

04-24-08

4:30 pm

6 lbs. 13 oz.

20 in.

Andrew

son to Meredith (good friend of Ashley's)

04-26-08

1 lb. 10 oz.

13.5 in.

We check up on this little guy daily and hear that he is doing great. Praying that he is able to go home soon to be with his family.

Jonah Tavares

son to Lisa and Patrick Tavares and brother to Ethan

04-30-08

12:35 pm

9 lbs. 2 oz.

20 in.

Fish and Hooters?!?!

It's been awhile since we had an all day field trip so Ashley and I packed the boys up yesterday and headed to the Aquarium in Fair Park. This is known now by us as the "poor man's aquarium" because it was well...not so great...but a bargain compared to the Dallas World Aquarium Downtown. Nathan and Jack didn't mind though...they loved checking out all the fish and laughing at Ashley and I as we tried to guess the names of the fish and at some points tried to read the names of the fish off the signs.

Here's the group...the tanks were up high so carriers worked better...this extra exercise for us justified lunch which you will read about in a bit.
Jack just loved to watch the fish swim around. He would point to all of them while talking away.
There was a HUGE crab right up against the glass so we watched as he moved all his "feet?" around.
I mean...if the Rainforest Cafe didn't traumatize him...this fish surely will.
After the aquarium we decided to walk fair park before heading to the car. This big elephant was just as cool to Jack as the fish were.
You know us...trying to get a picture of the boys together.
GOING...
GOING...

GONE!
Nathan was just so sweet waiting for Jack to sit next to him for the picture but that elephant was way to interesting for Jack to sit still.
The man from the aquarium told us that watching fish is therapeutic...Guess it took the boys troubles away and so they were able to rest peacefully once we got back to the car.
OK. So we planned to do lunch in Victory Park but it seemed to posh, the West End was struggling, and the thought of driving any further after all that exercise seemed too much. So there was Hooters, a parking lot next to it, and hey...they are boys....so here we are at lunch.

"I LOVE field trip days. Dad and Uncle Wayne are going to be so jealous."
"Yes Mendy, I'd like one of these please with a Bud Light."

"I don't know about this Mom...maybe I should cover my eyes during lunch. Plus I don't want them to see me blushing."
"You're not my Mommy...not even close."
"And you're not either."
"Eat your heart out Dad. Don't worry...next time I'll bring you with me and then we'll get even more attention from the nice ladies in short, tight shorts and low cut shirts."
"Wow...what a lunch. Good thing Mom took pictures because none of my friends would ever believe me. Before lunch fish were my favorite animals next to frogs...now...OWLS RULE!"